Usually, we feel like we are opening a new page at the beginning of the year. What stories do you want your new chapter to carry?
It’s important to know where you are headed. Otherwise, you will go nowhere, and your life will be organized and managed by other people and outside events that randomly happen.
When we create our vision, we often think about ourselves: our comfort, things we want to accomplish, experiences we want to enjoy. But, have you thought, “Lord, what do YOU want? What is YOUR will for me this year? How can I be of service to You and other people?”
Not that long ago, I realized that we contradict ourselves: we say, “I want to fulfill God’s will. I want to do what He wants me to do.” But when we think about a vision for our future, a new year, or plan our week, we become the center of it all, not God’s will.
I had a pretty interesting experience with this seven years ago and a fantastic testimony. For many years I have lived in faith. I would say, “Lord, may Your will be done in my life!” but then, when I planned my life, my goals were all about me. My comfort, my ambitions of what I wanted to achieve. Since my focus was to restore my life after the car accident, I concentrated on achieving what I wanted my life to be. First, it was about my ability to be self-sufficient living with my traumatic injuries, establish my life in a foreign country in a way that I would not have to depend on anybody. This put me in a mindset and lifestyle of constantly achieving my goals.
I was very passionate about the personal development and success industry for many years, and I had a great desire to go into that industry. My ambitions were relatively high, and I was thrilled just thinking about it. I did not have the means to make it happen, though. My book was written and ready to be published, BUT I did not have the editor nor did I have the money to publish it. I wanted to be a speaker in the personal development industry and record videos, BUT my home did not work well for recording, and I did not have the equipment to record videos and edit them. I did not have the car or someone to drive me where I would need to go for my business.
An enormous challenge was ahead of me. But I’ve been in this kind of situation not once, and the Lord, being faithful as always, provided His help every time. So, I believed that with His help, I would be able to accomplish it just as I achieved all other goals.
However, I couldn’t publish the book that I wrote. Nothing worked out for the vision I had. I was confused. It seemed like I was doing the right thing, and I couldn’t understand why I did not have a blessing to fulfill my vision.
I was perplexed. Then, through the Holy Scriptures, the Lord began working with my motives and my heart. One day I realized I had to make a choice: to go in the direction of aiming to achieve my selfish ambitions or surrender to God’s will and do what He wants me to do.
I had an understanding that this choice would direct my future and, ultimately, my destiny. Following the Lord’s will was a different path than a career in the success/personal development industry. I knew I was standing at a crossroads, and I had a choice.
What choice you will make?
I was pondering on that thought. My ideas were going back and forth because I knew it would be tough to juggle between the two worlds. I was eager and committed to bringing the Lord’s glory and making a difference in people’s lives. And I was thrilled about the Success industry, which is a high-paid career and an uplifting world to be engaged in. But from my observations, there is no place for Jesus there; the spiritual aspect of life is all about meditation. For some reason, prayer and Jesus Christ is automatically rejected by many, calling it a “religion,” while mediation is a practice of Buddhism and Hinduism religion, but nobody rejects it. So I was juggling with it and was not sure what to do.
It was early morning; while waiting for my bus to work. One moment a thought came to me, a few words from a Bible verse. I found that verse on my Bible app and began reading.
“Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my message in these adulterous and sinful days, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” Mark 8:34-38 NLT
I knew the Lord was speaking to me. He knew what was going on in my heart and talked to me. The word of God settled it. I knew without hesitation which path I would choose: fulfill my promise to the Lord.
After I surrendered my path to God’s will for my life, I had an understanding in my spirit as though someone was explaining to me the upcoming change: the Lord and I were driving in the car. I was in a driver’s seat, and Jesus was by my side, in the passenger’s seat. Jesus said, “All this time you were stirring the wheel of your life, going in life where you wanted to go, and I was right here with you, helping you to get where you want to arrive. Now, we will change places. Now I will be in a driver’s seat, and you will go with me where I will drive you, and you will help me fulfill My will here.”
“Yes, Lord. I give up all my ambitions; I don’t want any of that if You are not there. Show me what I need to do and where to go, and I will,” in my spirit, I agreed.
That moment, I felt how peace filled me. With that, there was a great sense of security, safety. I knew I had made the right choice.
When I aligned my vision with God’s will for my life
Since then, my life has changed quite radically. When I surrendered my path to the Lord, I had a new vision built on different motives and did not have selfish ambitions. So I began asking myself a different question: Lord, what do YOU want me to do?
And then, the Lord began showering me with His gifts. First, he provided the editor (one of the best copywriters/editors who came to my workplace to work with me on a project). Then, the Lord inspired a person to make a gift of $10,000 as funds to publish my book. Then, He provided the new home where I have multiple places proper for videos, professional video equipment for recording videos, and a professional editing program (which I am learning how to use and love it!). Fourth, He provided a wheelchair-accessible vehicle.
And most of all, the Lord connected me with a friend who became like my sister and is my partner in purpose, supporting me in my mission. With that, with my new friend, the Lord gave me her family, who loves me and accepted me into their circle, and now I have a new family here in the USA, while my real family is in Lithuania.
When you are on the right path, all things come together. I am not saying there won’t be any challenges. What I am saying – when your vision and your intentions are aligned with God’s will for your life – God works with you and provides everything you need. Even if challenges and obstacles arise – the Lord will provide help. When you appear in a situation without a way out – the Lord will make the way.
The critical question is – when you set your vision and your goals, who is at the center of it all?
The best and the safest place to be – it is God’s will! Be there.
More blog articles:
Testimony of Supernatural Healing
TESTIMONY: “He fulfills the desire of those who fear him…”
Important Aspect Of Powerful Prayer Of Faith
In my book “Unstoppable. It’s a Choice” you can learn my full story-testimony, which is an inspiring story of overcoming adversity and a story of the journey of faith trusting God in difficult times. I also coach and share practical tools to empower you to be strong and unstoppable in your personal journey. The book can be your personal daily coach!
UNSTOPPABLE 